Colorado Classics

Reporter Irv Moss writes about stars from the past

Jacky Lee, one of only 20 men who played in each of the AFL's 10 seasons, threw 16 touchdown passes for the Broncos from 1964-65. The Broncos passed him back to the Houston Oilers because the teams' deal required it. (Courtesy of Broncos)

Jacky Lee's arrival in Denver as a new Broncos quarterback almost 48 years ago didn't have the sensationalism of what occurred last week when Peyton Manning rode into town in his chariot and soon after had fans dreaming of Super Bowl championships.

There weren't any visions of Super Bowls when Jack Faulkner, the Broncos' coach and general manager at the time, greeted Lee upon his arrival from the Houston Oilers on Aug. 14, 1964. Faulkner hoped that Lee, a first-round draft pick by the Oilers in 1960 out of the University of Cincinnati, could stabilize the Denver quarterback position that was left in turmoil the year before when Frank Tripucka left the team.

As details of the deal that sent defensive lineman Bud McFadin from the Broncos to Houston were explained, Lee became a topic of national interest. Unlike the focus generated by Manning's move to Denver from Indianapolis, Lee's journey left the experts scratching their heads. He became known as the "lend-lease" quarterback because of a bizarre deal worked out by Faulkner and Oilers owner Bud Adams. Lee would play in Denver for two years and then return to the Oilers.

"I had been working behind George Blanda, but thought I was about to get my chance," Lee said from his home in Houston. "But Bud Adams told me I had to go to Denver for two years and then would come back to Houston. I think that's the only deal that ever has been made that way."

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It was the sign of the times in the fledgling AFL. The league started in 1960 at a time when rosters were written in pencil.

"The league still was learning its way," said Mickey Slaughter, a Broncos quarterback when Lee arrived in Denver. "As well as I can remember, Jacky Lee was our quarterback for one year."

Faulkner wasn't a stranger, making Lee's move from the Oilers to the Broncos a little easier. He had been Lee's coach at Cincinnati, perhaps providing a clue to the origin of the deal. But Lee also had some playing credentials of interest.

In 1961, Houston coach Lou Rymkus caused some commotion when he started Lee in place of Blanda in a game against the Boston Patriots. Lee completed 27 passes for 457 yards, an AFL record at the time, and the Oilers gained a tie at 31-31 on Blanda's late field goal.

Lee stepped into the Denver quarterback position in 1964 and completed 133-of-265 passes for 1,611 yards and 11 touchdowns. But he also threw 20 interceptions and the Broncos finished 2-11-1.

The following year, Mac Speedie had replaced Faulkner. Slaughter and John McCormick got most of the snaps at quarterback. Lee was 44-of-80 passing for 692 yards and five touchdowns. Denver was 4-10.

Time has eroded the details of Lee's memories from his days in Denver.

"I remember Lionel Taylor," Lee said of the Broncos Ring of Famer. "He really could catch passes. I could always find him."

Taylor was the Broncos' leading receiver in 1964 with 76 catches for 873 yards and seven touchdowns.

Lee played in the AFL for 10 years. After returning to the Oilers from the Broncos, he left Houston again for the Kansas City Chiefs. He earned a Super Bowl championship ring with the 1969 Chiefs.

When he walked off the field for the last time in 1969, Lee was one of only 20 men who played in each of the 10 years of the AFL. After football, Lee went into the real estate business and made his home in Houston. He also has a summer home in Maine and until last year piloted his own plane between Texas and New England.

(Courtesy of Joan Lee)

"I had a really nice airplane," Lee said. "I miss the flying."

Lee once brought national attention to Denver as a quarterback, maybe not in the magnitude of Peyton Manning, but in a bizarre way for sure. Every so often someone reminds him of his days as a "lend-lease" quarterback.

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